ADMIXTURE OF SOILS. 25 



customary in his neighborhood, as varying from 50 to 150 cubic 

 yards per acre. He deems the smaller quantity preferable at 

 one operation, as it mixes more steadily with the soil, and, though 

 it may not last so long, comes sooner into operation. He has 

 applied it to clover leys in summer, and to turnip fallows at dif 

 ferent times. He advises to have it dug in winter, and to cast 

 it upon the turnip land in the spring, when it has had time to 

 dry, and has become lighter of carriage. 



We have the testimony of another skilful farmer, a tenant of 

 the Duke of Bedford, who has pursued the practice of claying 

 land to a great extent. Not satisfied with the quality or quantity 

 of his produce, he has clayed 420 acres, in every instance with 

 good effect. Upon the gravel and sand land he lias put forty 

 loads per acre, containing forty bushels per load. On. the moor 

 land, covered with rushes, he has put seventy loads. The time 

 of applying it is directly after harvest, or in winter, if there has 

 been a frost. At the former time, it is done with less labor to 

 the horses and less injury to the land. The clay gets dry, and, 

 as soon as rain comes, it may be harrowed about, when, accord 

 ing to his opinion, it will begin to act beneficially to the land by 

 correcting the acidity, of which most lands have too much, there 

 by making food for plants of what was inert in the soil, and 

 giving the land that solidity which it required. In one case, he 

 speaks of witnessing the decided advantages from it, after a 

 lapse of fourteen years from its application. He speaks further 

 of having both marl and clay upon his land. He tests their dif 

 ferent qualities by applying vinegar, and determines their good 

 ness by their effervescence. In the case above referred to, the 

 clay which he applied would not effervesce on the application of 

 an acid; but, on drying it before the fire, and then applying the 

 vinegar, he found the desired result. This determined him to 

 use it on the land, giving it all the benefit of the sun in summer. 



In another case, he applied, in September, 1835, seventy loads 

 per acre of marl, blue, with some chalky particles among it, upon 

 seven acres, and left seven acres adjoining unmarled. The next 

 year, the oats were very good where the clay was ; the succeed 

 ing year, with turnips, the crop was good where the land had 

 been clayed ; on the other land the crop appeared, and soon per 

 ished. In 1840, the whole field was clayed, and a large crop of 

 barley was obtained throughout. He remarks, &quot; that land will 



VOL. II. 3 



